American rapper and actor LL Cool J poses for a portrait in New York, NY, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. He joined Morning Version to debate his return to rap after 11 years.
Shuran Huang/NPR
conceal caption
toggle caption
Shuran Huang/NPR
LL Cool J, a two-time Grammy Award winner, has by no means misplaced his rap bona fides. At age 56, the legend is rapping once more on The FORCE — quick for Frequencies of Actual Artistic Vitality — his first album in 11 years.
LL Cool J’s new album options collaborations with Nas, Eminem and Snoop Dogg.
© 2024 LL COOL J, Inc.
conceal caption
toggle caption
© 2024 LL COOL J, Inc.
His new album, out Sept. 6, is produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Known as Quest and options a number of of his contemporaries, together with Nas, Eminem and Snoop Dogg. Throughout 14 tracks, the album tackles themes of social injustice and racism. However, it is not all heavy; in a collaboration with the rapper Saweetie, the 2 rap about seduction and lust.
Again in 2017, LL Cool J grew to become the primary hip hop artist to obtain Kennedy Heart Honors for lifetime contributions to American tradition. The yr earlier than, his star was unveiled on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame.
He’s had a profitable performing profession in each movie and tv, taking part in a particular agent within the crime drama “NCIS: Los Angeles.”
The Queens, New York, native rose to fame within the ’80s. He made his first report, “I Want a Beat,” at age 16. Later got here quite a few smash hits, together with his Grammy Award-winning rap efficiency in “Mama Stated Knock You Out.”
In his new track “30 Decembers,” LL Cool J takes a visit down reminiscence lane. Throughout the peak of COVID, he would trip the subway in New York Metropolis and report his observations. “To put in writing is to really be impressed by one thing,” he stated in an interview with NPR’s A Martínez.
He additionally talked about how he’s not hanging up his hat anytime quickly.
This interview has been flippantly edited for size and readability. Hearken to Morning Version to listen to the total interview.
“Whenever you’re attempting to jot down songs that basically join with individuals, you’ve got acquired to have the ability to relate,” LL stated. “And one of many stuff you overlook about is the hazard. You overlook about actual issues occurring to actual individuals every day.”
Shuran Huang/NPR
conceal caption
toggle caption
Shuran Huang/NPR
A Martínez: Inform us about Frequencies of Actual Artistic Vitality. Why did you need to do that album now?
LL Cool J: If filmmakers can proceed to make nice movies over quite a few years, and if The Stones and Mick can run round at 80-something years outdated, which I really like and respect — if they’ll try this, LL Cool J can create artwork that is not simply mediocre, that is not like a B-minus, however truly one thing that, by way of my coronary heart and my ardour, and my soul, is an A-plus venture. And current it to the world and contact the tradition. That was the purpose that I used to be seeking to show.
A Martínez: I learn that you simply needed to discover ways to rap once more, contemplating it has been 11 years since you place out new music. What’s that course of wish to study to rap once more?
LL Cool J: I believe it’s creating new expertise, sharpening expertise that you simply already had. You already know, you might have been using bikes all of your life, however by no means popped a wheelie. It is like studying methods to pop wheelies. It is like, Oh, you’ve got been popping wheelies your entire life. Properly, discover ways to trip a unicycle.
A Martínez: So a variety of your tracks sound like they’re autobiographical. Inform us the story you are telling in “Black Code Suite.”
LL Cool J: That story is admittedly concerning the Black expertise in America after which tying that and connecting that to my roots all the way in which over in Africa. And that journey and that world and what it is like. I believe it is only a uncooked and trustworthy, fun-loving type of take a look at Black tradition.
A Martínez: You wrote “30 Decembers” within the peak of the pandemic. What was the story behind that track?
LL Cool J: So through the pandemic, I acquired a possibility due to all of the masks and restrictions. I took it as a possibility to simply anonymously journey all through New York Metropolis. And for me, that was superb, as a result of I might journey on the subway on my own – alone. I used to be in all places, man. From Marcy to pink homes from all up within the Bronx. I used to be simply operating all around the metropolis as a result of you may’t create artwork for individuals that you could’t relate to. Whenever you’re attempting to jot down songs that basically join with individuals, you’ve got acquired to have the ability to relate. And one of many stuff you overlook about is the hazard. You overlook about actual issues occurring to actual individuals every day. You can get misplaced on this little upscale bubble. All the things I documented in that track was actual.
“As a result of on the finish of the day, the actual questions get answered by the standard of the artwork,” LL stated.
Shuran Huang/NPR
conceal caption
toggle caption
Shuran Huang/NPR
A Martínez: Do you continue to see rap because the aggressive sport that you simply did perhaps again within the day if you had been 16 or 17 years outdated?
LL Cool J: Thousand %. You already know, the stakes are totally different, however I see it as desirous to show some extent, . It is not misplaced on me that I am making a culturally related and impactful report at yr 40. As a result of, , the humanities, you must get higher — you need to be extra curious. I imply, I might argue that Picasso acquired higher. Miles Davis acquired higher.
A Martínez: Now please forgive me for the way in which I ask this subsequent query. So can we name this album a comeback?
LL Cool J: No! Completely not. I have been right here for years, child. How are you going to name it a comeback once I’ve been right here for years, man? How are you going to try this? I am simply within the joint, what I’m saying.
A Martínez: They are going to be lifelong followers of yours who’re of their fifties, who’re going to play this album of their automobiles once they’re driving their children to high school. The youngsters are going to ask ’Who’s that, mother? Who’s that dad?’ What do you hope that these mothers and dads say once they describe the artist you had been again within the day once they had been younger, and the artist you at the moment are?
LL Cool J: I hope that the dialog does not even have available that a lot, as a result of once they press play, they only assume it is cool. As a result of on the finish of the day, the actual questions get answered by the standard of the artwork. I’ve had events the place individuals felt like they wished to inform their children about me and stuff like that, which is cool, however I do not even give it some thought in these phrases. It is like, Yo, that is my music. If that is the place you joined in with the world of LL Cool J, and if that is the place you found me, so be it. It is as much as you. I simply need to share my artwork with the world, share this venture with the world, and watch them have enjoyable listening to it.
The digital model of this interview was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.
